Paper box



R. A. GROSS Dec. 26, 1933.

PAPER BOX 1952 3 vShe` e"bs-Sheet l Filed Aug w//////// f f vv/ .,f/

d INVENTOR W @XM ATTORNEY R. A. GROSS Dec. 26, 1933.

PAPER BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1932 G fb Dec. 26, 1933. R. A. GRoss 1,941,084

PAPER BOX Filed Aug` 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q G INVENTOR (im M BY i? n "/vm ATTORNEY vNN Patented-Dec. 26, 1933 .1 UNITED YSTATES PAPER BOX Ralph A. Gross, Lititz, Pa., assignor to Simplex Paper Box Corporation, Lititz, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 10, 1932. Serial No. 628,137

8 Claims.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinaf ler described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which show one form of my invention and a slight modification thereof, se-

lected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

My invention is an instantly erectable telescopic knockdown-paper box'of exlremely strong 10 and rugged character, each member of which is manufactured in the knockdown condition from suitable paper, cardboard or other sheet stock, so that it can be shipped flat, and stored and handled in fiat condition until it is to be packed with merchandise, when it can be instantly erected and locked in contents receiving condition, so as to present the appearance of a set up box. My present invention is an improvement upon the box covered by my former Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,690,109, patented November 6th, 1928,

and is particularly desirable in boxes having considerable lengh or breadth, or both, and especially long and narrow boxes, such as are used in marketing hosiery and gloves, for example, or

other merchandise which remains in the box for a considerable period on the shelves or counter of the retailer, and from which the articles are sold, so that the boxes must stand shipment and a considerable amount of handling Without becoming marred or distorted or injured.

Contrary to the practice in making set up boxes,

which are usually formed of comparatively heavy cardboard, covered wi'h an exterior paper.` and i permanently glued in set up condition, knockdown boxes are made from blanks cut and scored for folding, and must be made of sheet material which will stand folding without breaking at the lines of fold. Many kinds of board suitable for use in set up boxes, and obtainable in varying thicknesses, according to the strength desired, are unsuitable for the manufacture of knockdown boxes.

The leading feature of my present invention is the provision of each of the side walls of the blank with an infolding interior side wall section, one of which has its outer edge provided with a reinforcing inerior body section preferably integral therewith, and having at its opposite edge an auxiliary interior side wall section folded within the other interior infolding side wall section, and permanently united there'o, so that the interior body section directly engages the inner surface of the main body section land is firmly held with respect thereto, while the exterior and interior side wall sections are folded fiat upon the box member it is only necessary to erect the end interior body section in the knockdown, or fiat form of the box member asl made up for shipment.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of means for holding the side wall sections folded 6o upon the interior body section, preferably by means of diagonally scored corner seclions, each integral with both the adjacent exterior side and end sections,the substantially triangular portions of said corner sections folded upon each other g5 and upon the adjacent end sec;ions, and the portions of each corner section integral with the end section being permanently secured thereto.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of each end section which carries an infolding locking sec.ion having locking portions to engage the endedges of the infolded interior side sections, as in my former patent above referred to, with an auxiliary locking means at the outer edge of each end locking section to engage the end edge of the inierior reinforcing body portion, in the set up position of the box, twov forms 01'/ such auxiliary. locking means being shown herein.

It will be understood that when the box member .is made up in the knockdown or fiat position, the interior body section is permanently secured in operative position in contact with the exterior body section and in connection with the side wall sections, so that the knockdown box member takes up no more room than it would if the interior body section were not present, while imparting great stiiness and ruggedness to the box structure, and further that in erecting the sections (which automatically erects the side sections) and fold in the end locking sections, which automatically interlock with the infolding side sections and the interior bottom section, so that the box may be instantly erected and locked without touching the interior reinforcing body section and the parts connected therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a box member embodying my invention, the portions which are permanently united in the knockdown condition of the box being indicated by associated parallel lines.

Fig. 2 represents a blank condition.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing in dotted lines, the further folded positions of the side walls.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing more 110 in partially folded portion of the infolding4 interior end sectionA which interlocks therewith.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view, partially broken away showing two xof the box mem--d section and the portion of the interior end section interlocking therewith. l

Fig. 1 shows one form of blank for a box member embodying my invention, which is died out of suitable sheet material and scored as indicated by the dotted lines in said figure. While these blanks may be formed from any suitable cardboard or other paper stock capable of being bent upon the scored lines, as hereinafter described, I prefer to employ as the sheet material for the yblank stock, which has one surface, to wit the outer surface of the blank, prepared for the-reception of printing or decorating by means of a printing press or otherwise, and preferably I employ what is termed a lined stock, comprising a sheet of cardboard having its exterior face coated with a thin, tough paper or other sheet' fabric adapted to receive printing and serving also to strengthen the cardboard layer which is of greater thick- Y' ness, and to enable the stock to be bent angularly 'without splitting or cracking. Fig. l of the drawings shows the inner or unfinished face of .the blank. In describing the formation of the box member, I will assume that it yis the 4bottom member of a telescopic box section, but it will be understood that the upper or cover box member is constructed in exactly the same manner, the blank therefor being of sufiicientlylarger proportions so that the cover box member will telescope over the lower box member, in the manner indicated in Fig. 10.

The blank as shown in Fig. 1 comprises the following sections. 1 represents the main or exterior body section, provided with integral exterior side wall sections, 2 and 3, respectively, from which it is separated by score lines, 2a, and 3a, and having integral exterior endv wall sections, 4 and 5, from which it is separated by the score lines, 4a, and 5a, respectively. The blank is also provided with corner sections integral with the adjacent side and end sections and divided by diagonal score lines, indicated at 6, into triangular portions,"1 and 8, the portions, 7, being adjacent to the side walls, and the portions, 8, being adjacent to the end walls. Each of the exterior end wall sections is provided With an interior infolding end wall section, indicated at 4b and 5b respectively, separated from the adjacent exterior end wall section by the score line, 4c and 5c, respectively, and each of these infolding end wall sections is provided at its opposite ends with locking portions, 9, preferably projecting slightly therefrom,

as shown, and adapted tov `interlock with the adjacent end edges of interior -side wall sections, as hereinafter described. Each ofthe locking sections, 4b and 5b, ls provided at its outer edge with a locking means to interlock with the adjacent end edge 4of the interior body section, as hereinafter described. and form an auxiliary locking means for holding the box in its erected position. In this instance the auxiliary locking means is in the form of a narrow locking strip, 4d and 5d, respectively, separated from the adjacent infolding end wall section by a score line, indicated at 4e and 5e, respectively.

Each of the side wall sections, 2 and .3, is provided With an integral interior infolding side wall section. These interior side wall sections are indicated at 10, l1, andare separated from the adjacent sections by score lines, 10a and 11a, respectively. The sections, I0 and 11, are preferably cut away slightly at their ends, as indicated at 10b and 11b, respectively to form locking edges, which are engaged by the locking portions, 9, of the adjacent infolding end sections, 4b and 5b. One of the interior side wall sections, in this instance the section, 11, is provided with an interior body section, 12, integral therewith, and separated therefrom by a score line, 12a, the section, 12, being of v nearly the same Width as the main body section,

1, but is in this instance of less length than the main body section, 1, the end edges of section, l2, indicated at 12a, being set in from the end edges, 11b, of the adjacent section, 11, a distance as indicated at 12e, substantially equal to the Width of the locking portions, 4d, 5d, with which they cooperate in the set up position of the box, as hereinafter described. The outer edge of the interior body sectin, 12, is provided with an attaching section, indicated at 13, and separated therefrom by a score line, 13a. This section, 13, is preferably of the same length as the section, 12, and is adapted to engage the opposite exterior side wall section, 2, and be permanently united to the opposite interior side wall section, 10, preferably by means of an adhesive, as glue, applied to the outer surface of section, 13, or to the portion of the inner surface of section, 10, indicated at 10c, which overlaps section, 13, or to both.

In forming the box member into its knockdown condition, the sections 11, 12 and 13, are folded over on the score line, 11a, respectively upon the sections, 3, 1 and 2, and simultaneously the side wall sections, 3, 11, and 2-10, are folded upon the score lines, 3a and 2a, respectively, so as to bring the interior body section, 12, into contact with the inner face of the main body section, 1, and the attaching section, 13, thereof, into contact with the inner face of the exterior side Wall section. 2, after which the interior side wall section, I0, is infolded upon the exterior side wall section, 2, and upon the exterior face of section, 13, and permanently united thereto, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the. drawings. At this stage of the formation of the box member, the corner sections will have been brought into vertical position with the exterior and the inner surfaces of the interior side wall sections, 10 and 11, so that the finish of the interior of the box is the same as the exterior. To complete formation of the knockdown box in knockdown condition, the double side walls are folded downwardly upon the'interior body section, 12, as .indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and as shown in plan in Fig. 5, which carries the corner sections downwardly upon the adjacent exterior end wall sections,A 4 and 5, and the triangular portions, 8, thereof, are permanently united to the portions of said exterior end wall sections which they overlap, preferably by spot gluing, as indicated in dotted lines at 8a in Fig. 5, although they may be unitedin any other desired manner. It will be understood that the interior side wall sections, 10 and 11, are made just sufficiently narrower than the exterior side wall sections, 2 and 3, to allow for the thickness of the interior body section, 12, and the width of the interior body section, 12, is sufficiently less than the exterior body section, 1, to allowr for the thickness of the interior side wall, 3, so that when the parts are assembled as just described, and the sections, 10 and 13, are permanently united, the interior body section, 12, is pressed downwardly into firm contact with the main body section, 1, throughout its entire length and the interior side wall sections, 10 and 11, are held rigidly in close parallelism with the exterior side wall sections, 2 and 3, respectively, without other fastening means, thus forming an extremely rigid duplex box body at all times whetherfin the knockdown or in the set up position.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the completed box in the knockdown position is not only flat, but is extremely compact, its transverse dimensions being no greater than that of the main body portion, 1, throughout the entire length of the box. In length, the knockdown box is onlya little longer than the length of the completed box, and in practice this length can be further. reduced by folding over the infolding end sections with their locking projections upon the score lines, 4c and 5c, if that 'is deemed desirable. Obviously a package containing a large quantity of these boxes in the knockdown condition would take up but a very small percentage of space in shipment, transportation and storage of the space required for the same number of set up boxes of equal size'.

To erect one of my box members, the operator simply picks up the knockdown box, holding one end in each hand with the fingers lying under the exterior body portion. On exerting a slight pressure on the hands toward each other, the end wall sections will be brought into perpendicular relation with the body portions, 1 and 12, the corner sections folding upon the dotted lines, 6, upon each other and upon the end sections to which they are connected, and simultaneously and automatically erecting' the double side walls. By a movement of his thumbs, the operator folds in both of the interior end wall sections, 4b, 5b, upon the infolded corner sections, the locking portions, 9, coming into interlocking relation with the end edges 10b, 11b, of the interior side wall sections, see Fig. 8, and the locking strips, 4d, 5d, engaging the exterior body section, l, filling the space at each end lof the interior body section and the adjacent interior end wall, see Figs. 8 and 9, the inner edges of the locking strips, 4d and 5d, coming into locking engagement with the end edges, 12b, of the interior body section, and the strips themselves forming continuations of the said interior body section. This interlocking action is instantanegus and substantially automatic, as the thumbs'of the operator effect the infolding of the interior end sections and locking strips. The box member thus formed, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, 1s double walled throughout. The infolding of the interior end section exposes the outer finished surfaces thereof on the inside of the box member, and the outer surface of the locking strips will also be exposed inside of the box member, so that the entire inner surface of the box member will have exactly the same finish as the exterior surface. This adds greatly to the general appearance of the box members, and in the case of the `top or cover member, which is usually printed or decorated, or both, on its exterior, it facilitates the printing of advertising matter on the interior body member, while the blank is fiat in the condition shown in Fig. 1, so that both the exterior surface of the coverbox member and the interior surface of the interior body portion, 12, thereof, can be simultaneously printed orithe blank at a single impression, which is frequently desirable.

It will also be seen that the box member, when in erect-position, is extremely strong and rigid, the main body section being of permanent double wall construction, as previously described, throughout substantially its entire length and throughout the body section and side walls, while the formation of the double end walls with primary and secondary locking means, cooperated with the double body and-side wall structure to produce a box which is as rigid, or in many cases, more rigid than a set up box, while retaining the advantage of shipment and storage in the knockdown or flat condition. In practice, where boxes of this type are to be filled by the operator, the

bottom box members and top or cover lbox members are arranged conveniently to the operator. The bottom box member is picked up by the operator and instantaneously erected and placed in position to receive the goods, practically as quickly as the ordinary set up box can be placed in such position. The goods are then placed in the box and the operator, in like manner seizes the cover box member, snapping it into erected and locked position, and placing it telescopically over the bottom box member in the manner indicated in Fig. 10. As a matter of fact, the separate box members can be erected, filled and closed in as short a time, or a shorter time, than is required to handle a set up box for the same purpose.

The box members illustrated in the drawings, are of long and narrow form, suitable particularly for packing stockings, gloves, neckties, and like articles, and my invention is particularly advantageous in boxes of this type, the continuous and permanent double wall structure throughout the box of the box members overcoming the tendency to weakness and flexibility which would otherwise be present in boxes of this character. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to rectangular boxes of any other form or dimensions.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have illustrated a slight modification of my invention, in which the parts corresponding with those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, are given the same reference numerals with the addition of 100. In this modified construction, which is otherwise identical with that previously described, the interior body section, 112, is made without the offset, indicated at 12e in Fig. 1, the end portions, 112b, being in substantial alignment with the end portions, 1111), of the connected interior side wall section, 111, so that when the in-A terior body section, 112,is folded and permanently secured in position upon the exterior body section, 101, it will form the entire interior surface of the body of the box. In such case the infolding interior end wall sections, one of which is indicated at b, are conveniently provided with locking portions at their outer edges, as indicated at 105d, which snappast the adjacent end edge, 112b, of the interior body section, 112, and inter,- lock therewith, and extend slightly below the inner surface of the interior body section, 112, as clearly shown in Figs. l1 and 12, which illustrate one end of a box member so constructed, it being understood that the opposite end is constructed in the same manner. u

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knockdown box member comprising an exterior body section, exterior side and end wall sections, integral therewith, integral corner sectionsI foldable upon adjacent exterior end wall sections, each exterior side wall section being provided with an integral infolding interior side wall section, an interior body section permanently connected at its opposite edges with the edges of the interior side wall sections remote from their union with Y the exterior side wall sections and holding said interior body section permanently and rigidly at all times in engagement with the exterior body section and said interior and exterior side wall sections in close parallel relation with each other, each exterior end Wall section being provided with an infolding interior end wall section having edge locking portions to interlock with the end edges of certain of said interior side wall and body sections when the box member is erected.

2. A knockdown box member comprising an exterior body section, exterior side andl end wall sections integral therewith, integral corner sec-A tions foldable upon adjacent exterior end wall sections, each exterior side wall section being provided with an integral infolding interior side wall section, an interior body section permanently connected at its opposite edges with the edges of the interior side wall sections remote from their union with the exterior side Wall sections and holding said interior body section permanently and rigidly at all times in engagement with the exterior body section and said interior and exterior side wall sections in close parallel relation with each other, said interior body secterior body section to permit the folding of the exterior and interior side wall sections jointly with respect to the exterior and interior body sections. in directions toward the interior body section, each exterior end wall section being provided with an infolding interior end wall section having edge locking portions to interlock with the end edges of certain of said interior side wall and body sections when the box member is erected.

' 3. A knockdown box member comprising an exterior body section, exterior side and end wall sections integral therewith, integral corner sections foldable upon adjacent exterior end wall sections, each exterior side wall section being provided With an integral infolding interior side Wall section, an interior body section having one edge integral with one of said interior wall sections, and its opposite edge providedwith an attaching strip permanently secured to the other interior side wall section, and holding said interior body section permanently and rigidlyat all times in engagement with theexterior body section and said interior and exterior side wall sections inV wall section being providedswith an infolding in-` 'j terior end wall section having edgefiocking por,-

tions to interlock with the end edges 0f certain oi said interior side wall and body sections when thebox -mexnberis erected.- u 4. An instantly erectable knockdownboxfiem ber comprising an exterior body section, side and end wall sections integral therewithrcbr ner sections each integral with the adiacenti terior side and end wall sections, .and dividedlii agonally by scoring into portions foldable each other and upon the adjacent exterior end wall section to hold the side wall sections against outward movement when the box is erected, each exterior side wall section being provided with an integral'iniolding interior side wall section, an interior body section having one edge integral .with

one of said interior side wall sections and having its opposite edge permanently secured to the opposite interior side wall section thereby serving to hold both inner side wall sections in close parallel relation to their respective exterior wall sections, and the interior body section in engagement with said exterior body section, said interior body section being of sufficiently less width than the exterior body section to permit the folding of the exterior and interior side wall sections jointly with respect to the exterior and interior body sections in directions toward the interior body section, each of said exterior end wall sections being provided with an infolding interior end wall section to fold upon said corner sections, said interior end wall sections being provided with lateral locking projections to engage end edges of the interior side sections, and auxiliary locking portions of less Width to engage end edges of the interior body section. p

5. An instantly erectable knockdown box member comprising an exterior body section, exterior side and end wall sections integral therewith, corner sections each integral with the adjacent exterior side and end wall sections, and divided tion being of sufficiently less Width than the exy diagonally by scoring into portions foldable upon each other and upon the adjacent exterior end `wall section to hold the side Wall sections against outward movement when the box is erected, each exterior side wall #section being provided with an integral infolding interior side Wall section, an interior body section having one edge i11- tegral with one of said interior side wall sections and having its opposite edge permanently secured to the opposite interior side wall section, thereby serving to hold both inner side wall sections in close parallel relation to their respective exterior wall sections, and the interior body section in engagement with said exterior body section, said interior body section and said interior side wall sections being respectively of less width than the corresponding exterior sections to permit the folding of the exterior and interior side Wall sections jointly with respect to the exterior and interior body sections toward and upon the interior body section, and the corner portions adjacent to said exterior end wall sections being folded upon and permanently united thereto, to hold said side wall sections in said folded position upon the interior body section in the knockdown position of the box, each of said exterior end wall sections being provided with an integral infolding interior end wall section to fold upon the adjacent corner sections, said interior end wall sections being provided with edge locking portions for engaging the end edges of certain of said interior side wall and body sections when the box is erected.v

6. A knockdown box member comprising an exterior body section, exterior side and end wall sections integral therewith, integral corner sections foldable upon adjacent exterior end wall sections, each exterior side wall sectionbeing provided with an integral infolding interior side wall section, an interior body section having one edge integral with one of said interior side Wall sections, and having its opposite edge provided with an attaching strip permanently united to the other of said interior side wall sections, said interior body section being permanently and rigidly held at all times in engagement with said exterior body section, said interior body section being of less length than said exterior body portion, and forming a recess at each end of said interior body section, said exterior end wall sections being each provided with an in' folding interior end wall section, provided at its outer edge with a locking vstrip to enter the adjacent recess and engage the inner face of said exterior body section, and the end edgeof said interior body section, and forming a continuation of the interior body section when the box member isl erected.

"I. A knockdown box member comprisingl an exterior body section, exterior side and end wall sections integral therewith, cornr sections each vintegral with the adjacent exterior side and end wall sections and divided diagonally into portions foldable upon each other and upon the adjacent exterior end wall section, each exterior side wall section being provided with an integral infolding interior side wall section, an interior body section having one edge integral with one` of said interior side wall sections and having its opposite edge provided with an attaching strip permanently secured to the opposite interior side wall section, said interior body section being permanently and rigidly held at all times in engagement with said exterior body section, said interior body section being of less length than the exterior body section and forming a transverse recess adjacent to each interior end wall, said side wall sections being folded down upon said interior body section and the corner portions adjacent to said exterior end wall sections being permanently united thereto to hold said side wall sections in said folded position upon the interior body section in the knockdown position of the box, each of said exterior end wall sections being provided with an integral infolding interior end wall section to fold upon the adjacent corner sections, said interior end wall sections being provided at their outer edges with locking strips adapted to t said recesses, to engage the inner face of the exterior body section, and the end edges of the interior body section, and to form continuations of said interior body section when the box member is erected.

8. A knockdown box member comprising an exterior body section, exterior side and end wall sections integral therewith, corner sections each integral with the adjacent exterior side and end wall sections and divided diagonally into portions foldable upon each other and upon the adjacent exterior end wall section, each exterior side wall section being provided with an integral infolding interior side wall section, an interior body section having one edge integral with oneof said interior side wall sections and having its opposite edge provided with an attaching strip permanently secured to the opposite interior side wall section, said interior body section being permanently and rigidly held at all times in engagement with said exterior body section, said interior body section being of less length than the exterior body section and forming a transverse recess adjacent to each interior end wall, said side wall sections being folded down upon said interior body section and the corner portions adjacent to said exterior end wall sections being permanently united thereto to hold said sidewall sections in saidrfolded position upon the interior body section in the knockdown position of the box, each of said exterior end wall sections being provided with an integral infolding interior end wall section to fold upon the adjacent corner sections, said interior end wall sections being provided at their lateral edges with locking portions to engage the adjacent end edges of said interior side wall sections, and having at their outer edges locking strips integral therewith and foldable angularly with respect thereto to fit said recesses, engage the inner face of the exterior body section and the end edges of the interior body section, and -to form continuations of said interior body section, when the 

